This document defines and provides examples of various grammatical terms including clauses, phrases, appositives, gerunds, infinitives, and participles. It distinguishes clauses from phrases by noting that clauses contain a subject and verb that agree, while phrases do not. Specifically, it defines noun phrases, verb phrases, prepositional phrases, and appositive phrases. It also discusses the two types of clauses - independent and dependent.
2. Clause – a group of words that have a
subject and a verb that must always agree
Phrase – a noun, verb, or preposition with
all its modifiers
- does NOT have a subject and verb which agree
4. Definition:
-A noun with all its modifiers
-A complete subject is always classified
as a noun phrase.
Example:
The frustrated, irritated teachers...
Noun: teachers
Modifiers:
the, frustrated, irritated
5. Defined as a verb with all of its modifiers
EXAMPLE:
…completely frightened the seventh grade students.
Verb - frightened
Modifier - completely
EXAMPLE:
…would like to improve her grammar skills.
Verb phrase - would like to improve
6. Gerunds
– verbs that end in “ing” but DO NOT function as a verb
- function as nouns
- example: One teacher enjoys frightening new seventh
graders. (noun as a direct object)
Infinitives
- verbs that begin with “to”
- function as a nouns, adjectives, or adverbs
- example: The language arts classroom is a place
students do not want to enter.
Participles
- verbs that function as an adjective
- example: The screeching teacher frightened
the students.
7. Defined as the preposition,
the object of the preposition (preposition who or what),
and all its modifiers
Example: The frustrated, irritated teachers enrolled
in Mr. Ruff’s “ Grammar for Dummies”
class.
preposition - in
object of the preposition - class
modifiers – Mr. Ruff’s, “Grammar for Dummies”
8. Definition:
A noun phrase that renames the noun it
follows.
Also known as a parenthetical phrase
Example:
Brad Ruff, the grammar guru, empowers teachers.
Appositive phrase?
- the grammar guru
9. Definition:
Words that contain a subject and a verb
which must always agree.
Two types of clauses:
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
10. An independent clause MUST HAVE a subject and a
verb which agree.
Example:
The frustrated, irritated teachers finally
understood the basic grammar concepts.
All the words in an independent clause can act alone
as a sentence.
They are a complete thought.
11. The subject and verb agree, but the words CANNOT stand
alone as a complete sentence.
also known as subordinate clause or relative clause
Examples:
since the teachers seek proficiency in grammar
which sheltered the children from the storm
12. Clauses can be joined with:
1. Coordinating conjunctions (join two independent clauses)
- AKA “FANBOYS” for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
2. Subordinating conjunctions (join dependent clause to independent
clause)
Some examples:
- if, since, because, with, when, whether, while
3. Relative Pronouns
- who, whose, whom, which, that
- NOTE: If a relative pronoun is used to begin a dependent
clause, that pronoun also has a function within the dependent
clause. It will also have an antecedent in the independent
clause.
13. coordinating conjunction:
- The busses lumbered along the boulevard, and the
children eagerly looked for the first sight of Disneyland.
subordinating conjunction:
- The busses lumbered along the boulevard while the
children eagerly looked for the first sight of Disneyland.
Relative pronoun:
- The busses, which were slowly lumbering along the
boulevard, were filled with eager children looking for
their first sight of Disneyland.
14. WHO OR WHOM?
WHO – used as the subject of a clause
WHOM – used as an object
Direct object
Indirect objects
Object of a preposition
Example:
Because the wind violently sliced through the
branches, the toddler, who/whom was terrified,
joined its howling.
- antecedent?
15. While the frustrated teachers were
industriously taking notes, they relaxed,
and the light bulbs went off in their
brains, which indicated miraculous
understanding of the grammar concepts.
16. Type of Sentence
-Simple Sentence
-Compound Sentence
- Complex Sentence
-Compound/Complex
Sentence
# of # of
Independent Clauses Dependent
Clauses
1 0
2+ 0
1 1+
2+ 1+
